After more than three years of planning, the Cornwall Borough Historical Alliance is ready to share its vision for Freeman Farm, a 198-acre agricultural property in the heart of the borough.
The alliance will hold two public meetings at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Social Hall at 6:30 p.m. July 16 and 30. Both presentations will be livestreamed on the Cornwall Borough Facebook page.
The meetings will feature three presentations. Local historian and artist Susan Wentzel will present a genealogy of the families associated with the farm, accompanied by portraits and images of historic Cornwall structures. Dana Clark, co-owner of Tippetts/Weaver Architects in Lancaster, will unveil a 3D architectural rendering of the alliance’s vision for the property. And alliance chairman Bruce Conrad, who also serves as pro tem on borough council, will address how the land could be purchased and financed.
A four-member panel will take questions from in-person and livestream audiences. Cornwall residents 18 and older who watch the presentations will have an opportunity to complete a survey.
The 198-acre Freeman Estate, which is zoned agricultural, contains 19th-century buildings including a Coleman stable. Borough council unanimously agreed in 2024 to allow Conrad and councilman Tom Burton to hold public meetings to gauge residents’ interest in the potential acquisition.
Read More: Who Knew? Iron AND Horses? (A Coleman story)
Conrad has said the hope is to restore the stables and generate revenue from the property through historical, educational, and agricultural uses, including possible woodworking and ironworking operations.
The Cornwall Historical Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded about 20 years ago. Conrad revived the dormant organization in 2023 with a broader mission to preserve the borough’s history, which is deeply tied to the iron ore industry, Cornwall Furnace, and Bethlehem Steel’s half-century presence in the region.
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